Unit I

60 Preposition (in/for/about etc.) + -ing

If a preposition (in/for/about etc.) is followed by a verb, the verb ends in -ing:

preposition verb (-ing)

Are you interested in working for us?
I'm not good at learning languages.
Sue must be fed up with studying.
What are the advantages of having a car?
Thanks very much for inviting me to your party.
How about meeting for lunch tomorrow?
Why don't you go out instead of sitting at home all the time?
Amy went to work in spite of feeling in.

You can also say 'instead of somebody doing something', 'fed up with people doing something’ e tc.:
O i'm fed up with people telling me what to do.

Note the use of the following prepositions + -ing:

before -ing and after -ing:

Before going out, I phoned Sarah, (not Before to go out)
What did you do after finishing school?
You can also say ‘Before I went out ...' and after you finished school'.

by -ing (to say how something happens):

The burglars got into the house by breaking a window and climbing in.
You can improve your English by reading more.
She made herself ill by not eating properly.
Many accidents are caused by people driving too fast.

without -ing:
We ran ten kilometres without stopping.
Cj It was a stupid thing to say. i said it without thinking.
She needs to work without people disturbing her. (or ... without being disturbed.)
C I have enough problems of my own without having to worry about yours.

To -ing (look forward to doing something etc.)

To is often part of the infinitive (to do / to see etc.):

We decided to travel by train.
Would you like to meet for lunch tomorrow?

But to is also a preposition (like in/for/about/with etc.). For example:

We went from Paris to Geneva.
I prefer tea to coffee.
C Are you looking forward to the weekend?

If a preposition is followed by a verb, the verb ends in -ing:

O I'm fed up with travelling by train.
O How about going away this weekend?
So, when to is a preposition and it is followed by a verb, you must say to -ing:
O I prefer driving to travelling by train, (not to travel)
O Are you looking forward to going on holiday? (not looking forward to go)

Be/get used to -ing Unit 61 Verb + preposition + -ing Unit 62

While/when -ing Unit 68B In spite of Unit 113 Prepositions Units 121-136 )
Exercises
Complete the second sentence so that it means the same as the first.
1 Why is it useful to have a car?
What are the advantages of Having a, oar ..................................
2 I don't intend to apply for the job.
I have no intention of
3 Helen has a good memory for names.
Helen is good at .........................................................................
4 You probably won't win the lottery. You have little chance.
You have little chance of ........... .....................................
5 Did you get into trouble because you were late?
Did you get into trouble for.................... .................................
6 We didn't eat at home. We went to a restaurant instead.
Instead of . .............................................................
7 We got into the exhibition. We didn't have to queue.
We got into the exhibition without ..
8 We played very well, but we lost the game.
We lost the game despite ...................... .................................

Complete the sentences using by -ing. Use the following (with the verb in the correct form):

borrow too much money -break a w indow drive too fast

put some pictures on the walls stand on a chair turn a key

1 The burglars got into the house by breaking a, window.....................................................

2 I was able to reach the top shelf............. ....................... ...................................
3 You start the engine of a car ...............................................................................................
4 Kevin got himself into financial trouble
5 You can put people's lives in danger....................... ..................................................
6 We made the room look nicer. .... .... ......................................

Complete the sentences with a suitable word. Use only one word each time.
1 We ran ten kilometres without stopping .
2 He left the hotel without his bill.
3 It's a nice morning. How about for a walk?
4 We were able to translate the letter into English without a dictionary.
5 Before ..................... to bed, I like tohave a hot drink.
6 It was a long trip. ! was very tired after ....... on a train for 36 hours.
7 I was annoyed because the decision was made without anybody me.
8 After the same job for ten years, I felt I needed a change.
9 We got lost because we went straight on instead of left.
10 I like these pictures you took. You're good at pictures.

For each situation, write a sentence with I'm (not) looking forward to.
1 You are going on holiday next week. How do you feel?
I’m looking -forward to going cm holtda.y. ....... ...............................
2 Kate is a good friend of yours and she is coming to visit you soon. So you will see her again
soon. How do you feel? I'm ......................................................................................
3 You are going to the dentist tomorrow. You don't enjoy going to the dentist. How do you feel?
I'm not .................................... ..... .......
4 Rachel hates school, but she's leaving next summer. How does she feel?

5 You've arranged to play tennis tomorrow. You haven't played for a while and you like tennis a
lot. How do you feel?

-» Additional exercises 26-28 (pages 317-19)